Diagnosis of Chickenpox
Doctors generally diagnose chickenpox based
on the telltale rash. If there's any doubt about the diagnosis, chickenpox can
be confirmed with laboratory tests, including blood tests or a culture of
lesion samples.
Treatment for Chickenpox
Chickenpox is usually mild and can be
treated at home. Most people feel better within a week or so.
Most of the treatments for chickenpox are
aimed at decreasing the symptoms, such as severe itching. A non-aspirin
analgesic like acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be used to decrease the fevers and
aches. Children should never be given acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) or
aspirin-containing cold medications because of the risks for developing Reye's
syndrome (a severe brain disease associated with liver and brain dysfunction
and death).
If complications do develop, your doctor
will determine the appropriate treatment. Treatment for skin infections and
pneumonia may be with antibiotics. Treatment for encephalitis is usually with
antiviral drugs. Hospitalization may be necessary.
Prevention of Chickenpox
Chickenpox is highly contagious and can
make some people very ill, so it's important to try to avoid spreading it to
others.
Some of the things you can do are outlined
below.
Stay Home
If you or your child has chickenpox, stay
away from nursery, school or work until all of the blisters have dried up and
scabbed over.
Avoid contact
Certain people are at a higher risk of
becoming seriously ill if they become infected with chickenpox.
These include:
- Pregnant women
- Newborn babies
- People with a weakened immune system (the body's defence system), such as people with HIV, those taking high doses of steroid medication and those having chemotherapy
If possible, try to avoid contact with
people from these groups until the blisters have scabbed over and you're no
longer contagious.
Clean and wash regularly
Chickenpox can be spread through contact
with objects that have been contaminated with the virus, such as toys, bedding
or clothing.
If someone in your house has chickenpox,
you can help stop it spreading by cleaning any objects or surfaces with a
disinfectant and making sure that any infected clothing or bedding is washed
regularly.
Travelling on a plane
If you or your child has chickenpox, you
may not be allowed to fly until all the blisters have dried and scabbed over.
It's a good idea to inform the airline of
your situation and check whether they have a policy about when they allow
people with chickenpox to fly.
It's also important to let your travel
insurer know if you or your child has chickenpox.
You need to make sure that you'll be covered
if you have to delay or cancel your holiday, or if you need to extend your stay
until your child is well enough to fly home.
Chickenpox vaccination
There is a vaccination against chickenpox,
but it's only given to people who are at a very high risk of spreading the
infection to vulnerable people.
These include healthcare workers and people
living with someone who has a weakened immune system.
Outlook for Chickenpox
The prognosis of uncomplicated chickenpox
is generally good when acquired in childhood, and even in most adults, after
the chickenpox rash goes away. Most people never experience chickenpox symptoms
again after the first occurrence, and they are immune to other people's
chickenpox.
